Risk of Death from Venous Thromboembolism in Severe and Critical Pneumonia Patients: A Retrospective Observational Study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) poses a significant risk to patients with severe and critical pneumonia, contributing to increased mortality rates. Early detection of VTE in these patients is crucial for implementing timely interventions and improving outcomes. Method: We conducted a single-centered, retrospective, observational study involving 32 adult patients with severe and critical pneumonia admitted to the intensive care unit of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, China, between January 1, 2020, and February 20, 2023. All patients underwent bilateral lower extremity venous ultrasound and D-dimer testing upon admission. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between patient mortality and VTE, considering gender, age, time to ultrasound examination, site of thrombus, and D-dimer levels. Results: Among the 32 patients, 21 (65.6%) developed acute venous thrombosis in both lower extremities, with varying degrees of involvement. Notably, 11 (52.3%) of these patients died during the study period. The logistic regression analysis identified standard deviation for D-dimer levels as a significant predictor of patient mortality (P = 0.05), indicating a strong association between elevated D-dimer levels and increased risk of death. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the importance of early detection and management of VTE in severe and critical pneumonia patients. Elevated D-dimer levels, indicative of a hypercoagulable state, were significantly associated with mortality risk in this population. Prompt initiation of anticoagulant therapy upon VTE diagnosis may help mitigate this risk and improve patient outcomes. These results emphasize the need for vigilant monitoring and proactive measures to prevent VTE-related complications in critically ill pneumonia patients. Trial Registration: Retrospectively registered